OSHRC begins probe into Use of Cycle Pumps in Tubectomy Surgeries

Wed, 03 Dec 2014 11:00:29 IST

Bhubaneswar, Dec 03: Odisha State Human Rights Commission (OSHRC) has launched an investigation into the alleged use of bicycle pumps to dilate abdomen of women during tubectomy surgeries in Angul district and sought reports from health officials on the matter.

Taking suo motu cognisance of media reports about the practice, the Commission has asked the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Angul and Director Health and Family Welfare to give detailed reports on the matter, OSHRC sources said.

"They have been asked to submit their reports within four weeks," the sources said, adding, the Commission has registered a case in this regard and initiated the process of investigation.

The move came on the trail of Centre seeking a report from the state government about the reported use of bicycle pumps during sterilisation procedures at the camp at Banparpal in Angul district on Friday organised by the health and family welfare department.

Earlier, taking serious note of the matter, the state government had ordered an administrative probe into media reports about the incident, officials said.

The incident came to light barely a fortnight after the death of several women following botched sterilisation surgeries at a government camp in Chhattisgarh.

However, medical authorities in Angul and the surgeon on duty at the government-run Banarpal community health centre had defended the procedure as "routine" in such operations in most government health facilities in the state.

Adequate safeguards are followed while using cycle pumps and the nozzle tips are properly sterilised before conducting the procedures, they said.